Indigenous tourism has been defined as tourism activity directed by indigenous people or in which the culture of the indigenous people is the primary attraction. Models of indigenous tourism in which indigenous people are directly engaged in managing the activity or site emerged as a response to indigenous communities being treated as passive objects of mass tourism. The presence of indigenous communities in all stages of the implementation of the tourism operation is seen as the ideal scenario for indigenous tourism. Indigenous tourism, when included in government policies that provide technical assistance for its growth, can be a key element in achieving development goals.

Indigenous tourism is not intended to replace productive activities present in communities such as agriculture, livestock, or handicrafts. Rather, it is intended ...